2024-01-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 1408
SB 202                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 202 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
             "An Act renaming Fairbanks International Airport as                                                               
                Don Young Fairbanks International Airport; and                                                                 
          providing for an effective date."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                                                           
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Transportation and Public                                                                     
          Facilities                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 22:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill renaming the Fairbanks                                                                   
International Airport to Don Young Fairbanks International Airport.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2024-01-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 1409
This bill recognizes Donald Edwin “Don” Young for his lifetime of                                                               
service to the State of Alaska and advocacy for the construction,                                                               
maintenance, and safety of the State’s transportation infrastructure.                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Don Young advanced transportation development while serving in                                                                  
both chambers of the Alaska State Legislature and throughout his                                                                
tenure as the longest-serving Republican Congressman in the nation’s                                                            
history. As a state legislator, Young championed legislation to                                                                 
modernize Alaska’s air commerce system and require that aircraft be                                                             
outfitted with radio beacon devices for emergency rescue. In                                                                    
Congress, Young served as chair of the House Transportation and                                                                 
Infrastructure Committee and sponsored numerous bills to reshape                                                                
infrastructure and safety requirements. His efforts with particular                                                             
impact in Alaska include funding Alaskan ferry and ferry terminal                                                               
projects, the Alaska highway program, Alaska Railroad passenger                                                                 
operations improvements, and the construction of roads and surface                                                              
infrastructure in Alaska Native villages and rural communities. Young                                                           
was also keenly aware of the vital role of air transportation in Alaska                                                         
and sponsored bills to streamline airline communication to reduce                                                               
flight delays, provide economic support for the continued operation of                                                          
airlines affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, protect                                                       
pilots from in-flight dangers, and authorize improvement grants for                                                             
small airport safety infrastructure.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
By renaming the Fairbanks International Airport to the Don Young                                                                
Fairbanks International Airport, the State honors Don Young at a place                                                          
that epitomizes the importance of Alaska’s transportation                                                                       
infrastructure and where the immense benefits of his advocacy can be                                                            
enjoyed by Alaskans and visitors every day.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor